In a plea hearing held Wednesday in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court, former priest Timothy Crowley, 74, pled guilty to two counts of Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.
“This plea will mark the ninth straight conviction by my department’s clergy abuse investigation team who have worked tirelessly on behalf of survivors in this state,” Nessel said.
“We are grateful to have obtained some measure of justice on this matter and many others, further breaking down the walls of silence which often surround sexual assault and abuse.”
Crowley, who had been a priest at St. Thomas Rectory in Ann Arbor, was arrested in 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. His case was initially dismissed after a preliminary examination, but the Attorney General’s office prevailed in the Court of Appeals.
The sentencing agreement includes serving five-years on probation and requires Crowley to spend the first year in jail, receive sex offender treatment and register as a sex offender. Sentencing is scheduled for November 8 at 1:30 pm in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court.
The Department of Attorney General’s investigation into clergy abuse at Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses began in 2018 with assistance from the Michigan State Police and other law enforcement agencies. The department has issued criminal charges in 11 cases throughout the state and secured convictions in nine, delivering justice for 44 survivors.
The remaining two defendants are pending extradition from India.
For additional information on the department’s clergy abuse investigation or to submit information, visit the department’s website at www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/Catholic-Church-Clergy-Abuse/submit-catholic-church-clergy-abuse-information, call the hotline at 844-324-3374, or email the clergy abuse team at aginvestigations@michigan.gov.
Victims of sexual abuse and/or assault in need of additional resources should contact 855-VOICES4.
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